Recharging device.



No. 786,332. PATENTED APR. 4, 1905.

I J. V. WELLS.

RECHARGING DEV-ICE. APPLICATION FILED APB..14, i904.

FIGJ- F'l GA- m v Imam:

Patented April 4, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN V. ELLS, OF BRADDOCK, PENNSYLVANIA.

RECHARGING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 786,832, dated April 4,1905. Application filed April 14, 1904- Serial No. 203,123.

Be it known that 1, JOHN V. WELLS, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Braddock, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Recharging Device, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to a recharging device adapted to be used inconnection with the triple valves of automatic air-brake systems. It isuseful in connection with triple valves of various sorts, but especiallywith the triple valve forming the subject-matter of my 00- pendingapplication, Serial No. 135,738, filed December 18, 1902, in connectionwith which it is here illustrated.

The object of the invention is to provide means for retaining thebrake-cylinder pressure during the recharging of the auxiliary reservoirin such a manner, however, as will enable the brakes to be quicklyandfully released when the predetermined auxiliary-reservoir pressure hasbeen reached. This end I attain by providing a valve controlling thetriple exhaust and seated by the action of aspring and thebrake-cylinder pressure upon the reduction of the auxiliary-reservoirpressure. I also provide a releasing means operated by theauxiliary-reservoir pressure and adjustable to respond to said pressurewhen the same has reached a predetermined degree. In this manner as thetriple-valve slide moves to running and release position theretainingvalve seats and closes the triple exhaust, provided theauxiliary-reservoir pressure has been reduced below the strength of thesaid spring, thus retaining the brake-cylinder pressure until the normalworking pressure has been reestablished in the auxiliary reservoir,whereupon the retaining-valve is unseated by the action of the releasingdevice influenced by the auxiliary-reservoir pressure.

My invention also involves a secondary retaining-valve, which acts to acertain extent independently of the first-mentioned or mainretaining-valve to cause a certain amount of pressure to be exhaustedfrom the brake-cylinder even when the main retaining-valve is in whichsimilar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all theviews.

Figure 1 is a sectional view showing the general outline of a triplevalve constructed in accordance with that disclosed in my 00- pendingapplication above referred to and showing my improved recharging-valveattached. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the cylinder forming part of therecharging-valve and showing the cup-leather piston therein. Fig. 3 is asectional plan view of the stem of the main retaining-valve on the line3 3 of Fig. 1, and Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views of the secondaryretaining-valve.

10 indicates the casing of the triple valve, having the main cavity 10and the triple slide 11, the latter having, among other things, theexhaust-cavity 11. The main cavity 10 is in communication with theauxiliary, as usual, and said casing 10 is formed with a brakecylindercommunication 10 and a train-line communication 10. The tripleexhaust-port 10 extends to the outer side of the casing or shell 10 andcommunicates with a continuation-port 12, formed in the walls ofthecylinder 12, which constitutes part of the recharging-valve and isbolted or otherwise fastened to the side of the valve-casing 10. Theport 12 extends to the outer or lower end of the cylinder 12 andcommunicates with a chamber 14, fastened to said end of the cylinder. Anopening 12 establishes communication between the chamber 1& and thecylinder 12, and said cylinder also has an opening 12 leading into theatmosphere. At itsinner or upper end the cylinder 12 communicates with aslide-cavity 10*, formed in the casing 10, and this cavity in turncommunicates by a port 1O with the main cavity 10 of the triple-valvecasing, such communication being at one side and independent of thetriple slide 11. In the cylinder 12 is arranged a cupleather or otherform of piston 15, connected to a rod 16, forming the stem of the mainretaining-valve. This stem extends downward or outward through theopening 12" into the chamber 14, and its outer portion is grooved orfluted, as indicated at 16, while the ex-/ tremity thereof is formedwith a flange 16", the purpose of which will fully appear hereinafter.

17' indicates an expansive spring which encircles the stem 16 within thecylinder 12 and bears between the outer head thereof and the piston 15,tending to move the parts 15 16 and the elements attached thereto inwardto or slightly beyond the position shown in Fig. 1. When the pressure inthe main cavity 1O of the casing 10, such being the auxiliary-reservoirpressure, exceeds the strength of the spring 17, the piston 15 and theattached parts will be moved downward or outward, effecting a resultwhich will be hereinafter fully set forth.

The main retaining-valve preferably is composed of a case-like body 18,having a cap 19 fitted into the lower or outer end thereof,the inner endof the body sliding freely on the lower end of the stem 16 and theflange 16" communicating downward or outward movement to the mainretaining-valve with respect to the stem 16. Owing to the corrugations16 in the stem 16, a free movement of the braking fluid may take placethrough the upper or inner end of the body 18 of the mainretaining-valve, and this fluid movement may also take place through theopening 12 when the main retaining-valve is not seated. Said valve isprovided with gaskets 20, coacting with gaskets 21, carried on thecylinder 12, as Fig. 1 indicates, and when the main retaining-valve ismoved so as to contact these gaskets with each other the passage of thefluid from the chamber 14 between the main retaining-valve and thecylinder 12 is prevented.

22 indicates spring-catches which are attached to the cylinder 12 andadapted to engage the inner end of the retaining-valve body 18, so as tohold the valve in seated position until the spring-catches are overcomeby superior force.

According to the form of the invention here shown the cap 19 is formedwith an opening 19, constituting a seat for a check-valve 23,

which constitutes the secondary retaining valve and is normally seatedbyan expansive spring 24, contained within the main retaining-valve body18. By means of this secondary valve 23, notwithstanding that the mainretaining-valve may be seated, upon seating the secondary valve pressuremay be passed from the chamber 14 outward through the corrugations 16into the cylinder 12 and thence'to the atmosphere by the port 12.

25 indicates a cock which may be placed in the chamber 14 to serve thedouble purpose of allowing this chamber to be drained out and also ofallowing the entire recharging apparatus to be cut out of actionwhenever desired.

In the operation of the device the normal auxiliary-reservoir pressureoperates when the brakes are not applied to force down the piston 15,causing the stem 16 to bear on the secondary retaining-valve 23 and dropopen the main retaining-valve 18 free from the catches 22, thus giving afree passage from the triple exhaust 10 to the atmosphere through thecontinuation-port 12, chamber 14, corrugations 16, cylinder 12. and port12. lVhen-the brakes are applied and the auxiliary-reservoir pressurehas equalized with the brake-cylind r, the reduced pressure in theauxiliary and in the main cavity 10 of the triple valve allows thespring 17 to move up the piston 15, carrying the stem 16 and lifting themain retaining-valve into proximity to its seat. To recharge theauxiliary without releasing the brakes, a train-line increase should bemade, causing the triple slide to move into running and releaseposition. Owing to the disposition of areas on the main retaining-valvewhen the brakecylinder pressure blows into the chamber 14 through thepassage 10", cavity 11, and ports 10 and 12 the retaining-valve, alreadylifted near its seat, is forced upward, causing the gaskets 20 and 21 toengage and preventing the passage of the braking fluid between the mainretaining-valve and the cylinder 12. The parts will stay in thisposition until the auxiliary-reservoir pressure has been raised to thenormal, whereupon the piston 15 will be forced down, and the stem 16 indescending will strike the secondary valve 23 and return the mainretaining-valve to its unseated or open position, thereby releasing thebrakes. However. should it be desired to continue braking the auxiliaryreservoir should not be permitted to recharge to the entire normalpressure at which the valve 18 unseats, but only to recharge to within afew pounds of such pressure. The operator can by this means continuebraking and recharge after each application to within a few pounds ofthe normal pressure, this being continued indefinitely after the valve18 has once been seated and the auxiliary-reservoir pressure being atthis time maintained to within a few pounds of the normal pressure.During the abovedescribed operations the secondary retainingvalve has anindependent action in that by the adjustment of the spring 24 said valvemay be made to open to allow the escape to the atmosphere through thecorrugations 16 of the stem 16 of any pressure exceeding a predetermineddegree which may be requiredv be assumed that the normalauxiliary-resen' voir pressure is seventy pounds, that this willequalize in the brake-cylinder at fifty-five pounds, that the spring 17is of sufficient strength to raise the piston against fiftyfive pounds,seating valve 18, and that the spring 2 1 is of sufficient strength tohold the valve 23 seated against all pressures under fifteen pounds. Ittherefore may be seen that upon a service application of the brakes orany application short of equalizing the auxiliary-reservoir pressurewith the brakecylinder the piston 15 will not be aflfected, andconsequently that the recharging device will not come into operation.However, should an emergency or full aplication of the brakes beeffected and the auxiliarycylinder pressure equalize in thebrake-cylinder at or below fifty-five pounds upon the triple slidemoving to release position the spring 17 will then assert itself and,raise the main retaining-valve sufliciently to seat it. When this takesplace, the pressure in the chamber 14 will lift the valve 23, allowingthis pressure to pass through the corrugations 16 to the cylinder 12 andout by the port 12 until the pressure in the chamber 14:, andconsequentlyin the brake-cylinder, is exhausted to fifteen pounds,whereupon the spring 24 will assert itself and seat the valve 23, thusretaining this fifteen pounds pressure in the brake-cylinder until thenormal auxiliary-reservoir pressure has been restored, whereupon therecharging device will be automatically released in the manner beforeexplained. The above figures of pressure are given purely as examples,and it will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that variousadjustments of the parts may be made to vary the above operation widely.The spring-catches 22 effectually prevent the return of the mainretainingvalve, which mightotherwise take place owing to the relativelysmall volume of the chamber 1 1 and of the leakage which might takeplace therefrom. These catches are, however, readily overcome by thepositive pressure exerted through the rod or stem 16, actuated by theauxiliary pressure on the piston 15.

It will be apparent that by opening the cock 25 a clear passage will beprovided from the triple exhaust to the atmosphere and that therecharging device will be completely out out of action. This isimportant in cases Where a train may require but few retainingvalves inaction. This element 25 also serves as a drip-cock. I would also explainthat any of the ordinary retaining-valves now in use may be connectedwith my recharging device at the port 12", in which case the operationof the said ordinary retaining valve will be wholly independent of thatof the recharging device. Finally, I would point out that the secondaryretaining-valve 23 may, if desired, be dispensed with, in which casewhen the spring 17 moves the main retaining-valve into seated positionthe triple exhaust will be sealed absolutely and no pressure will beallowed to escape until the main retainingvalve is seated. This willhold in the brakecylinder all of the pressure originally blownthereinto. Such an arrangement will be useful in certain phases ofrailroad engineering for instance, on roads where the grades are veryheavy and it is desirable, therefore, to hold a high pressure in thebrake-cylinder.

Various changes in the form, proportions, and minor details of myinvention may be resorted to at will without departing from the spiritand scope thereof. Hence I consider myself entitled to all suchvariations as may lie within the intent of my claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. A recharging device, comprising acasing orinclosure, including a cylinder and a chamber communicating therewith,the cylinder having a vent to the atmosphere and being adapted tocommunicate with the auxiliary reservoir and the chamber being adaptedto communicate with the brake-cylinder, a piston in the said cylinder, astem connected to the piston, a spring pressing the piston against theauxiliary-reservoir pressure, a main retaining-valve having limitedsliding movement on the stem, and a secondary retaining-valve carried bythe main retaining-valve.

2. A recharging device, comprisinga casing or inclosure including acylinder and a chamber at one end of and communicating with thecylinder, said cylinder having the other end adapted to communicate withthe auxiliary-reservoir pressure and having a discharge or exhaust portintermediate its ends and the chamber being adapted to communicate withthe brake-cylinder pressure, a piston in the cylinder, a spring pressingthe piston against the auxiliary-reservoir pressure, a grooved stemattached to the piston and extending through the communication betweenthe cylinder and chamber, a chambered main retaining-valve located inthe said chamber and having limited sliding movement on the groovedportion of the stem, said main retaining-valve being adapted to bearagainst the adjacent cylinderhead to close the fluid-passage between thesaid head and the main retaining-valve, and a secondary retaining-valvecarried by and commanding an orifice in the said chambered mainretaining-valve.

3. A recharging device, comprisinga casing or inclosure including acylinder and a chamber at one end of and communicating with thecylinder, said cylinder having the other end adapted to communicate withthe auxiliary-reservoir pressure and having a discharge or exhaust portintermediate its ends and the chamber being adapted to communicate withthe brake-cylinder pressure, a piston in the cylinder, a spring pressingthe piston against the auxihary-reservoir pressure, a grooved stemattached to the piston and extending through the communication betweenthe cylinder and chamber, a chambered main retaining-valve located inthe said chamber and having limited sliding movement on the groovedportion of the stem, said main retainingvalve being adapted to bearagainst the adjacent cylinderhead to close the fluid-passage between thesaid head and the main retaining-valve, a secondary retaining-valvecarried by and commanding an orifice in the said chambered mainretaining-valve, and means for releasably holding the mainretaining-valve in active position.

4. A rechargingdevice, comprising a casing or inclosure including acylinder and a chamber at one end of and communicating with thecylinder, said cylinder having the other end adapted to communicate withthe auxiliaryreservoir pressure and having a discharge or exhaust portintermediate its ends and the chamber being adapted to communicate withthe brakecylinder pressure, a piston in the cylinder, a spring pressingthe piston against the auxiliary-reservoir pressure, a grooved stemattached to the piston and extending through the communication betweenthe cylinder and chamber, a chambered main retaining-valve located inthe said chamber and having limited sliding movement on the groovedportion of the stem, said main retaining-valve being adapted to bearagainst the adjacent cylinder-head to close the fluidpassage between thesaid head and the main retaining-valve, asecondary retaining-valvecarried by and commanding an orifice in the said chambered mainretaining-valve, and springcatches adapted to engage opposite sides ofthe main retaining-valve to hold said valve yieldingly in activeposition.

5. The combination with a triple valve, of a recharging device,comprising a main retaining-valve controlling the triple exhaust, meansfor unseatipg said valve, such means being actuated by theauxiliary-reservoir pressure, a secondary retaining-valve, and means foryieldingly seating the same, the secondary retaining-valve being carriedby the main retaining-valve.

6. The combination with a triple valve, of a recharging device,comprising a main retaining-valve controlling the triple exhaust, meansfor unseating said valve, such means being actuated by theauxiliary-reservoir pressure, a secondary retaining-valve, and means foryieldingly seating the same, the secondary retaining-valve being carriedin the main retaining-valve.

7. A recharging device for fluid-pressure brake systems, comprising avalve adapted to command the triple exhaust, means for unseating saidvalve operated by the auxiliaryreservoir pressure, and a spring-catchadapted to yieldingly hold the valve seated.

8. Aa'echarging device for fluid-pressure brake systems comprising achambered valve adapted to command a triple exhaust, means for unseatingsaid valve operated by the auxiliary-reservoir pressure, and a secondaryretaining-valve mounted in the chambered valve and controlling anexhaust-opening therein.

9. A recharging device for fluid-pressure brake systems comprising acasing having a passage therethrough communicating with the tripleexhaust, a retaining-valve commanding said passage, means for unseatingthe valve operated by the auxiliary-reservoir pressure, theretaining-valve having a passage therethrough, and a secondaryretaining-valve cornmanding the passage in the first-named or mainretaining-valve.

10. A recharging device for fluid-pressure brake systems comprising avalve adapted to command a triple exhaust, means for unseating the valveoperated by the auxiliary-reservoir pressure, and a catch adaptedreleasably to hold the valve seated.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

' JOHN V. WELLS. Witnesses:

O. A. S'roKEs, E. H. HUTZEN.

